Capital Region Native Cut By MLB Team After Accusation of Tipping Pitches

A Capital Region native is no longer a member of the Minnesota Twins' organization following a controversy that began to percolate last week.

Derek Bender, of Niskayuna, was released by the Twins on Thursday, after allegations of pitch-tipping were levied against the 21-year old catcher.

Per ESPN's Kiley McDaniel, Bender was playing for the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, the Twins' Single-A affiliate. In the second game of a Sept. 6 doubleheader, Bender told multiple hitters for the Lakeland Flying Tigers the specific pitches being thrown by starter Ross Dunn.

Fort Myers' opponent in this game, Lakeland, scored four runs in the second inning and won the game, 6-0.

The natural follow-up question is: why would he do this? Sources told ESPN that Bender had told teammates he wanted the season to be over before this game took place.

Bender was relegated to the bullpen for the final two games of the season, and was released by the Twins this week.

READ MORE: Former Capital Region Pitcher Set for Major League Debut This Week

Bender was a a sixth-round draft pick (188th overall) in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Coastal Carolina. He played in 19 games for Fort Myers this season, hitting .200 with two home runs.

Bender was a standout for Coastal Carolina, hitting .326/.408/.571 with 32 home runs and 153 RBIs in 144 career games. Bender played four years at Albany Academy in New York from 2017-19, as the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He helped lead his Albany Academy team to back-to-back section championship titles in 2017 and 2018, and was named to the 2019 Times Union All-Area first team his sophomore season.

Bender was also named MVP of the Cape Cod League's West Division All-Star Team in July 2023.